Hearse drape



1942- E. L. SCHOFIELD HEARSE DRAPE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 E. L. SCHOFIELD HEARSE DRAPE Filed Dec. 12, 1938 Jan. 13, 1942.

Patented Jan. 13, 1942 HEABSE DRAPE Earl L. .Schofield, Freeport, Ill., assignor to Henney Motor Company, Freeport, Ill., a'corporation of Delaware Application December 12, L938, Serial No. 245,149

14 Claims.

This invention relates to hearses.

In recent years, an efiort has been made to give hearses a more distinctive design so far as external appearance is concerned. Lavishly carved wooden panels designed to represent as closely as possible the natural lines of actual drapes became the vogue, but it was soon found that these panels would not last very long when exposed to the weather and they required considerableattention to keep them from presenting a shabby appearance. Sheet metal and also cast panels have therefore to some extent replaced the carved wooden'panels. However, such constructions while more durable still require too much attention because of their exposure on the outside of the hearse body, and unless a lot of time is spent in cleaning and polishing, such hearses do not present a good appearance. It is therefore the principal object of my invention to provide an interior drape ornamentation visible through the side windows of the hearse closely simulating actual cloth drapes in appearance, but made of sheet metal covered with mohair or other trimming material, so that there'is no possibility of disarrangement.

Another important object of the invention consists in the provision of air-tight containers for the imitation drape means adapted to be fastened to the inside of the body and doors, so that rubber sealing strips are compressed into airtight sealing engagement all around the windows to form dead air spaces between the drape means and the windows to exclude dust and dirt.

A further object consists in mounting th containers for quick and easy removal and having the drape means removable therewith, whereby to facilitate cleaning.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Fig. 1 is a side view of a hearse body embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section on the line 2--2 of Fig. 1, on a larger scale;

Fig. 3 is a vertical section on th line 3'3 of Fig. 1, with an intermediate portion of the section broken away so as to permit showing the parts on the same scale as in Fig. 2; and

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section through the hearse body looking at the inner face of the sheet metal containers provided in connection with the drape means on the opposite side of the hearse from that appearing in Fig. 1.

The same reference numerals are applied to corresponding parts throughout the views.

The glass for the windows 5 and 6 on the doors 'l and body 8,respectively, is fastened in place by sheet metal strips 9, as indicated in Figs. 2 and 3, bearing against heavy rubber sealing strips 10 which fit around the edges of the glass, whereby to make the hearse body weather tight. In accordance with my invention, I provide drape means, indicated generally by the reference numeral ll, visible through these windows 5 and 6 on opposite sides of the hearse enclosed by sheet metal housings or containers l2 and 13 mounted in air-tight relation to the inside of the doors and body, whereby to exclude dust and dirt from the drape means. The housings l2 and I3, as indicated in Fig. 4, are both rectangular so that therea-re no complications involved in the forming of the sheet metal thereof and it is not difficult to mount the same in the body. Wooden strips l4 and I5 extend across the top and bottom of each of the housings l2 and I3, as illustrated in Fig. 3. Sheet metal channel pieces l6 and I? are fastened to these strips and receive rubber sealing strips 18 and 19 adapted to be compressed into tight sealing engagement with the inside of the door and body around the windows when the housings I2 and I3 are fastened in place. Other sheet metal channel pieces 20 areprovided in the-opposite ends of the housings suitably secured, to the edge portions 2| of the rounded end walls 22 of the housings, as shown in Fig. '2, and mount rubber sealing strips 23 therein for a similar purpose. In that way, the housings I2 and 13 are made air tight, and since there is a dead air space in each of these housings, it follows that dust and dirt is excluded and the drape means will remain-clean and will not require any attention for a long time. The housings are, however, designed to be quickly and easily removed and replaced so that the drape means can be brushed off periodically. Thus, I provide two studs 24 in longitudinally spaced relation projecting from the top of each of' the housings and arranged to be entered in holes 25 in brackets 26 fastened to th inside .of the body'and door above the windows, and also provide two brackets 21 fastened to and projecting downwardly from the bottom of each of the housings in longitudinally spaced relation having holes 28 therein through which screws 29 are arranged tobe extended to thread into sockets 30 mounted on the inside wall of the door and body below the windows. When the studs 24 are entered in the holes 25 and the screws 29 are then entered in the sockets 30 and tightened, all of the rubber sealing. strips [8, l9, and .23 are compressed and the housings are accordingly sealed against dust and dirt entering the same. At the same time, the compression of these sealing strips avoids any danger of the structure rattling when the hearse is in motion.

The novel drape means II provided in accordance with my invention is formed from a series of narrow sheet metal strips 3I bent to J-shaped cross-section so as to provide a longitudinal attaching flange 32 along one edge and a substantially semi-circular portion 33 along the other edge to simulate the folds of actual drapes. Wherever the ends of these pieces are exposed, as indicated at 34 in Fig. 1, the ends are cut on ogee curves to further resemble the appearance of actual cloth drapes. The outer or exposed surfaces of the strips 3| are covered withmohair or other suitable upholstering material, as indicated at 35, this being suitably cemented in place. Self-tapping screws 35 entered through holes in the attaching flanges 32 and threaded in holes in the back wall 3'! of the housings I2 and I3 serve to fasten the straight strips 3| in place to form the back drop portion 38 of the drapes. The longer straight pieces 3Ia, formed similarly to the pieces 3| providing the side drop portion 39 of the drapes, are similarly fastened by selftapping screws 36 to sheet metal panels 40 mounted inside the housings I2 and I3 at the opposite sides thereof and suitably secured in place by the lateral flanges 4i and 42 provided thereon having abutment with the back and side walls, respectively, so as to locate the side drops 39 in a plane in front of the back drops 38. One of the strips 3Ia for the side drops has a rearwardly projecting edge portion 43 extending to the back drops 38. These edge portions 43 provide a place for fastening the edge portions 44 of segmental shaped, arcuately corrugated panels 45 disposed in front of the back drops 38 covering the opposite side portions thereof as valances. Here again, self-tapping screws 36 provide the fastening means, the same being passed through holes in the edge portions 44 and threaded in holes provided therefor in the edge portions 43 of the adjacent side drop strips 3Ia. The upper edge portions 46 of the panels 45 are fastened by screws 35a which enter the wooden strips I4 that extend across the top of each of the housings I2 and I3, see Fig. 3. The outer or exposed surfaces of the side drop strips 3Ia and valance panels 45 are all covered with mohair or other suitable upholstering material, as indicated at 35, similarly as in the case of back drop strips 3|, and, of course, the mohair covering on the back drops may be furnished to match or contrast with the covering on the valances and side drops, as desired. The tie cords 41 carrying tassels 48 on the lower ends thereof are suitably secured at their upper and lower ends to the mohair covering on the side drops and valances, as by stitching, and they give the appearance of tie-backs. These cords and tassels also may be furnished in the same or a contrasting color, as desired.

The drape means I I constructed and installed, as just described, always presents a good appearance and requires very little, if any, attention because the same is protected from the weather by the windows 5 and 6 on the doors and body and, furthermore, is protected from dust and dirt inside the hearse by the air-tight housings l2 and I3 which enclose the same. There is obviously nothing to become disarranged when the hearse is in motion, all portions of the drape means being of fairly rigid sheet metal construction. The covering of the sheet metal parts gives the appearance of actual drapes. There are no parts in the assembly which could possibly rattle in the motion of the vehicle because it will be noticed that where the edge portions 49 of the strips 3I and 3Ia overlap the attaching portions 32 of adjoining strips, the mohair covering on the outside of the strips cushions the engagement of the parts so that there is no metal-tometal contact. The same i true of the edge portions 43 on the side drops which, as shown in Fig. 2, have the edges thereof contacting the mohair covering on the adjacent back drop strips 3|. While the valance panels 45 are rigidly secured in spaced relation to the back drops 38, it is obvious that if any portion of one of these panels should happen to contact an adjacent portion of the back drops, the engagement would be cushioned by the mohair covering on the back drop strips 3! so that there would be no rattle.

It is believed the foregoing description conveys a good understanding of the objects and advantages of my invention. The appended claims have been drawn with a view to covering all legitimate modifications and adaptations.

I claim:

1. In a vehicle, such as a hearse, comprising a body having a window, demountable means providing a supporting wall in said body spaced inwardly from and substantially parallel to the window, and cloth covered semi-rigid sheet metal drape devices mounted on said wall in proximity to said window with the cloth covered sides thereof visible from outside the vehicle through the window.

2. In a Vehicle, such as a hearse, comprising a body having a window, a casing for enclosing said window from inside said body, means for detachably securing said casing to said body in such position, and window drapery means carried by and removable with said casing but visible through said Window when the casing is in operative position.

3. In a vehicle, such as a hearse, comprising a body having a window, a casing for enclosing said window from inside said body, means for detachably securing said casing to said body in such position, and cloth covered semi-rigid sheet metal drape devices for said window mounted in and removable with said casing but visible through said window when the casing is in operative position.

4. In a vehicle, such as a hearse, comprising a body having a window, a casing for enclosing said window from inside said body, compressible sealing means adapted to be compressed between the body and the marginal portions of said casing, means for detachably securing said casing in operative position compressing said sealing means, and formed sheet metal drape members mounted in said casing.

5. In a vehicle, such as a hearse, comprising a body having a window, a casing for enclosing said window from inside said body, compressible sealing means adapted to be compressed between the body and the marginal portions of said casing, means for detachably securing said casing in operative position compressing said sealing means, and formed sheet metal drape members mounted in said casing, said members being formed to simulate cloth back drops andvalances and being covered to appear as cloth drapes.

6. In a vehicle, such as a hearse, comprising a body having a window, perforated brackets zontally and all being cut on ogee curves, for the carried on said body in spaced relation on one side of the Window, a box-like inside enclosure for the window having projections on one side thereof for detachable engagement in the brackets perforations, means on the diametrically opposite side of said enclosure for securing the same detachably to the body on the adjacent side of the window, sealing means between the enclosure and body serving to make the enclosure substantially air-tight when the enclosure is fastened in place, and window drapes mounted in said enclosure.

'7. As an article of manufacture an imitation drape section for use in a window in a vehicle, such as a hearse, comprising an elongated sheet metal body formed to a generally J-shaped crosssection, the substantially flat edge portion of which constitutes an attaching portion for mounting the same on a support, said body being covered with cloth-like material so as to give the appearance of a fold of cloth drapery.

8. In a vehicle, such as a hearse, having a window, drape means adapted to be mounted behind said window comprising a support, and a series of elongated sheet metal drape sections each comprising a body formed to a generally J-shaped cross-section, the substantially fiat edge portion of each body constituting an attaching portion for mounting the same on the support, said sections being covered with cloth-like material so as to give the appearance of folds of cloth drapes, said sections disposed in substantially parallel relation with the curved edge portion of each section superimposed on the flat attaching edge portion of the neighboring section.

9. As an article of manufacture, an imitation drape section for use in a window in a vehicle, such as a hearse, comprising an elongated sheet metal body formed to a generally J-shaped crosssection, the substantially flat edge portion of which constitutes an attaching portion for mounting the same on a support, at least one end of said body being cut on an ogee curve, for the purpose described, said section being covered with cloth-like material so as to give the appearance of a fold of cloth drapes.

10. In a vehicle, such as a hearse, having a window, drape means adapted to be mounted behind said window comprising a support, and a series of elongated sheet metal drape sections each comprising a body formed to a generally J-shaped cross-section, the substantially flat edge portion of each body constituting an attaching portion for mounting the same on the support, said sections being covered with cloth-like material so as to give the appearance of folds of cloth drapes, said sections disposed in substantially parallel relation with the curved edge portion of each section superimposed on the flat attaching edge portion of the neighboring section, said sections together forming an imitation drop curtain and the lower ends of all of said sections being in substantial alignment horipurpose described. 7

11. In a vehicle, such as a hearse, having a window, drape means adapted to be mounted behind said window comprising a suport in spaced substantially parallel relation to the window, a back drop section covering the middle portion of said support and comprising two series of elongated sheet metal members formed to J- shaped cross-section, the substantially flat edge portion of each constituting an attaching portion for mounting the same on the support, the two series being disposed so that the curved edge portions of both project toward the middle vertical parting line of said back drop, the members being attached to said support by their other flat edge portions and being disposed in parallel relation with the curved edge portion of each member superimposed on the attaching portion of the next member, except at the parting line where the curved edges of the end members of the two series face one another, side drop sections covering the opposed side portions of said support and comprising series of elongated sheet metal members like the first named also disposed with their curved edge portions disposed projecting toward the middle of the support, the side drop sections being carried on said support in a plane in front of said back drop section and substantially parallel thereto, and two segmental shaped sheet metal valance panels mounted in front of said back drop section in substantially coplanar relation with said side drop sections, each of said panels being formed to corrugated cross-section with the corrugations in substantially concentric arcs with the apex of the segment as a center, the two panels having their arcuate edges adjacent the middle parting line of the back drop section.

12. In a vehicle, such as a hearse, comprising a body having a window, a casing for enclosing said window from inside said body, means for detachably securing said casing to said body in such postiion, window drapery means carried by and removable with said casing but visible through said window when the casing is in operative position, and compressible sealing means adapted to be compressed between the body and said casing.

13. In a vehicle, such as a hearse, comprising a body having a window, an air-tight casing enclosing said window from inside the body, and window drapery means carried by said casing and visible through said window.

14. In a vehicle, such as a hearse, comprising a body having a window, an air-tight casing enclosing said window from inside the body, and semi-rigid sheet metal drape devices for said window mounted in said casing and visible through said window, said devices being covered by cloth-like material to resemble cloth drapes.

EARL L. SCHOFIELD. 

